This is something new I’m thinking about instituting. I heard from a lot of you that you want to hear (and see) more from me – about my life and what I’m up to. So this is me trying to do just that. I got the idea for this format from Jen Loves Kev, a mommy blogger I randomly stumbled upon and who I’m inexplicably in love with (I think it’s the bangs?), and I thought I’d give it a go.

Read about what’s going on with me, then tell me, what are you working on / thinking about / anticipating / etc etc etc? I want to hear it!

WORKING ON:

I feel like I’m still getting back into the swing of things after being on vacation, though August is already feeling so far away. There’s lots I got to marinate on that I want to start doing, blog-wise, but this week was more about just getting back on the daily grind (not that it’s a grind! but you know what I mean). Add to that it’s Fashion Week, and I’m just happy I survived.

THINKING ABOUT:

Fall! Obviously. When I woke up last Saturday and realized it was, whoah, September, my mind immediately flitted to clothes for the cold weather season. That means I’m planning posts on overcoats, sweaters, and boots with thick socks to keep you warm as the leaves change color.

ANTICIPATING:

Shopping for the above. Digging through the interwebs for some great steals and deals for you to get your hands on.

LISTENING TO:

Van Morrison. While there’s never a bad time for a Van Morrison playlist blasting from your speakers, there’s something about September that puts me in the mood for Bang Masters. When I was in high school, this cd, along with Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge played in my crappy little ’92 Elantra pretty much every day on my way to and from school. Those and Backstreet Boys’ Millenium. What can I say? I have eclectic taste. Putting on Van Morrison makes me feel I’m back in Wisconsin, driving through leaves crunching under my wheels with the windows open a crack so I can feel the fresh fall air.

EATING:

This week I made alfredo sauce for the first time. It wasn’t that hard, just putzy and you have to stay at the stove and stir for awhile. I’m trying to eat more meat as I’ve been getting sick like, al-l-l-l-l-l the time lately, and my acupuncturist/herbalist lady told me a story about these monks that live on the top of some mountain somewhere: they’re usually vegetarians, but they slaughter a lamb or something whenever they get sick and start chowing down on that protein. “So you know your body needs it,” was basically her point. Sure, I get a lot of protein from beans and soy and all that, but ever since she told me that story, my body was all, “GIVE ME A STEAK RIGHT NOW” and I’ve been listening. Plus, fettuccine alfredo tastes lots better with some slices of baked chicken spread across the top. I used this recipe for my Italian feast.

THANKFUL FOR:

My family. I had an amazing vacation in Wisconsin last week – yes, it counted as a vacation – and I was reminded that not everyone wants to see their family as much as I like to see mine. It helps that I have two amazing little people in the next generation of my family that change like CRAZy every week it seems, so I have a bigger reason to get home. But still, everyone’s pretty great.

PLANNING FOR:

A few big runs. My outdoor exercise routine broke down a little at the end of last month due to my contracting the plague (or, y’know, a really bad cold…if you want to get technical about it). Thankfully, September is the best time to begin planning for longer races, since the temperature doesn’t make you want to plop down for a cold beer at the outdoor cafe that just happens to come right around the bend of your mile three marker. I’m not someone who running comes easily to – I only landed upon it as my workout of choice during my senior year of college when I’d exhausted all my intramural team sport options. I’m terrible about controlling my pace, and my gait changes from one song to the next on my iPod. But I love the idea of having something to train for, and I like that I can do it alone, whenever, wherever. Planning for a competitive run makes my workouts more intense, and I can feel the difference in my body as I get stronger. The topic of fitness came up over and over again in the comments yesterday, and as I said there, working out for me isn’t about losing weight or staying skinny, it’s about feeling good about my body. When you feel good about what’s going on under your clothes, what you’re wearing is just the icing.

Want to weigh in on any of the above? Tell me about your week in the comments!